Over the line: Goal tech to be used at 2014 World Cup

By James Masters, CNN

Updated 1902 GMT (0302 HKT) February 19, 2013

Football's goal-line controversies8 photos

A legacy of controversies – Deciding whether or not a shot has crossed the line has long been an issue in football. Arguably the most famous incident was in the 1966 World Cup final, when England's Geoff Hurst saw his shot in extra-time bounce down off the underside of the West Germany crossbar. A goal was awarded, giving England a 3-2 lead, with the hosts going on to win the match 4-2.

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Football's goal-line controversies8 photos

Azerbaijan folk hero – Hurst's goal was awarded after referee Gottfried Dienst consulted Azerbaijan linesman Tofik Bakhramov who judged the ball had bounced beyond the line. Azerbaijan's national stadium is named after folk hero Bakhramov, who even had a statue modelled in his honour.

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Football's goal-line controversies8 photos

History repeated – England have been at the center of some of the most famous goal-line controversies. At the 2010 World Cup, England and Germany met again in the round of 16. With Germany leading 2-1, England's Frank Lampard hit a shot which struck the bar and landed well over the goal line, but no goal was awarded, and Germany won 4-1.

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Football's goal-line controversies8 photos

Ukraine unlucky – At the Euro 2012 tournament, England were involved in controversy for a third time. Co-hosts Ukraine needed to beat England to advance from the group stage, but fell behind to a Wayne Rooney header. Artim Milevskiy thought his shot had crossed the line before John Terry was able to hook it clear, but once again no goal was given and Ukraine crashed out.

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Football's goal-line controversies8 photos

A Mata of inches – Two months earlier Terry had been involved in another goal-line incident, this time for club team Chelsea. In an FA Cup semifinal with Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea's Juan Mata hit a shot which was inadvertently blocked by Terry, but a goal was given and Chelsea won 5-1.

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Football's goal-line controversies8 photos

Hawkeye – Hawkeye ball-tracking technology was first used in tennis in 2006, with players able to challenge calls by umpires and line judges. Each player is allowed three challenges in each set, but they do not lose a challenge if it the technology shows the umpire or line judge made the wrong call.

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Football's goal-line controversies8 photos

Decision Referral System (DRS) – Other sports have embraced video technology. Cricket uses the Decision Referral System (DRS) to rule on leg before wicket (lbw) calls. Hawkeye ball-tracking software is used to see whether a delivery was in line to strike the stumps before hitting the batsman's leg.

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Football's goal-line controversies8 photos

Television Match Official (TMO) – Both rugby codes -- league and union -- use a video referee to rule on whether a try should be awarded. The video referee was first introduced at the rugby league Super League World Nines tournament in 1996 and the "Television Match Official" is widely used in possible point-scoring situations.

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Story highlights

FIFA confirms that goal-line technology will be used at the 2014 World Cup

Technology was successfully trialled at last year's Club World Cup in Japan

System will be in place for Confederations Cup in Brazil this June

FIFA has opened tender and is expecting multiple bids for rights

Hanging just above the reception at Wembley Stadium is a long, white pole.

As tourists flock to the iconic "Home of Football" they gaze toward the slightly discolored and aging artifact.

In days gone past, some would rub it. Some would kiss it. Some would simply walk past while muttering "Nein" under their breath.

But to underestimate the contribution of this seemingly lifeless piece of apparatus would be criminal.

Some 47 years since that pole played an integral role in deciding the 1966 World Cup final, FIFA, the game's governing body, has announced that goal-line technology will be used at the tournament in Brazil in 2014.

To the entire watching world, it was a goal. But not the one man who mattered.

The incident, which occurred under the watching gaze of FIFA president Sepp Blatter, convinced the Swiss administrator that technology should be introduced sooner rather than later.

'Box Office' Beckham thrills French audience 9 photos

'Box Office' Beckham thrills French audience9 photos

Beckham mania – Hundreds of fans and journalists flocked to the Paris Saint-Germain training ground Wednesday to get a glimpse of David Beckham in action on the practice field. The interest in Beckham's move to the French club has caused huge excitement with the anticipation building ahead of the midfielder's possible debut on Sunday.

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'Box Office' Beckham thrills French audience9 photos

Bonjour Becks! – David Beckham took part in his first training session with his new Paris Saint-Germain teammates less than 24 hours after watching them claim a 2-1 win at Valencia in the last-16 round of the Champions League. on Tuesday.

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'Box Office' Beckham thrills French audience9 photos

Getting stuck in – Beckham, 37, was put through is paces at the club's open training day where more than 100 journalists turned up to witness the event. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star is hoping to make his debut against Sochaux on Sunday, but it's not known if his pop star wife Victoria will be in attendance. Beckham's family has remained in London where his children Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz attend school following their move from Los Angeles.

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'Box Office' Beckham thrills French audience9 photos

Working out – Beckham, who won 115 caps for England, has signed a five-month deal with the Qatari-backed club, but has revealed that his salary will be donated to a Paris children's charity. He will now hope to force his way into the side and link up with the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lucas Moura and Ezequiel Lavezzi with the team six points clear at the top of Ligue 1.

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'Box Office' Beckham thrills French audience9 photos

Welcome wave – Beckham waves to the waiting press pack as he makes his way out at the club's Camp des Loges training center in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, near Paris. The session, which was led by PSG's Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, was shown live on French television.

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'Box Office' Beckham thrills French audience9 photos

Pretty in pink – Beckham shows off his new pink boots, a pair of which even Posh Spice might approve of. While Beckham is busy preparing for his debut, fashion designer Victoria was having her latest designs shown off by models in London.

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'Box Office' Beckham thrills French audience9 photos

Hot stuff – After working up a sweat, Beckham throws off his top and gets back to work with the players who didn't feature in Tuesday's win at Valencia. If Beckham doesn't play against Sochaux on Sunday, he could line-up the following week against fierce rival Marseille and fellow Englishman Joey Barton.

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'Box Office' Beckham thrills French audience9 photos

Life's a beach – Beckham takes to the sand as he steps up his training regime. Running on sand has several long-term benefits which includes strengthening the lower body muscles, burning more calories and is supposed to be easier on the joints as opposed to grass.

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'Box Office' Beckham thrills French audience9 photos

Becks and Leo – Beckham watched PSG's win at Valencia alongside the club's sporting director Leonardo. The pair looked on as their side edged out Valencia 2-1 in the first leg thanks to goals from Ezequiel Lavezzi and Javier Pastore, before Zlatan Ibrahimovic was sent off late on. The Swede will miss the second leg in the French capital on March 6.

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Clash of the titans 6 photos

Clash of the titans6 photos

Welcome break – After a rocky opening period in which Real hit the post, United shocked the home crowd by taking a 20th minute lead through Danny Welbeck. The England striker rose highest to meet Wayne Rooney's corner and head the ball inside the far post to spark wild celebrations amongst the visiting supporters.

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Clash of the titans6 photos

Jumping for joy – Welbeck dances away in celebration after firing United ahead, while most of the crowd look on in stunned silence.

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Clash of the titans6 photos

Guess who? – It had to happen, didn't it? That man Cristiano Ronaldo leveled for Real against his former club with an unstoppable 30th minute header after climbing high above Patrice Evra and Jonny Evans.

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Clash of the titans6 photos

Ronaldo's muted celebration shows the respect he still holds for his former employers. The Portuguese star, who joined Real for a world record fee of $124 million back in 2009, was at the heart of everything positive about his team's performance.

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Clash of the titans6 photos

United miss out – United's Robin van Persie had two glorious opportunities to win the game for United in the second half, one which was turned onto the crossbar by Diego Lopez and another which was kicked off the line by Xabi Alonso.

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Clash of the titans6 photos

Pointing the way – Real manager Jose Mourinho was left frustrated after his side dominated for long periods but failed to find a winner. In the end, the home side was indebted to a couple of fine saves from Diego Lopez to keep the scoreline level.

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Champions League: It's back! 12 photos

Champions League: It's back!12 photos

Celtic cauldron – Celtic had suffered just two home defeats in 23 Champions League games before welcoming Juventus to Parkhead. The Scottish champion saw off the might of Barcelona in the Group Stage with the famous Celtic atmosphere a huge factor in the team's success.

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Champions League: It's back!12 photos

Magic Matri – Alessandro Matri gave Juventus the perfect start by firing the Italian side ahead after just three minutes. Matri's effort was adjudged to have crossed the line before Claudio Marchisio smashed the ball into the back of the net.

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Champions League: It's back!12 photos

Party time – Juventus stun Celtic Park thanks to Matri's early strike and temporarily silence one of the most partisan crowds in European football. The goal came following a dreadful defensive error from Efe Ambrose, who helped Nigerian win the Africa Cup of Nations just last Sunday.

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Champions League: It's back!12 photos

I'm watching you – Celtic captain Scott Brown rages at Juventus playmaker Andrea Pirlo during the high octane clash. Pirlo, who played a starring role in Italy's run to the World Cup Final last year, was outstanding once again at the heart of the Juventus midfield.

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Champions League: It's back!12 photos

Hard for Hooper – Celtic striker Gary Hooper had scored 22 goals in 34 appearances before taking on Juventus Tuesday, but the in-form forward couldn't find a way past a deteremined Italian defense.

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Champions League: It's back!12 photos

Double trouble – Claudio Marchisio celebrates after firing Juventus into a 2-0 lead with 13 minutes remaining. After enduring a barrage of Celtic pressure, Marchisio rounded off an incisive move to inflict further damage upon the home side.

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Champions League: It's back!12 photos

Game over – Mirko Vucinic rubbed salt into Celtic wounds by firing home his side's third and final goal in the 83rd minute following another defensive mistake by Efe Ambrose. The tie is all but over going into the second leg in Turin on March 6.

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Champions League: It's back!12 photos

Beckham's back – David Beckham was in attendance to watch his new club Paris Saint-Germain take on Valencia in the last-16 of the European Champions League. Beckham recently signed a five-month deal to play in the French capital and hopes to make his debut in the next couple of weeks.

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Champions League: It's back!12 photos

Fast start – Ezequiel Lavezzi celebrates his early strike for Paris Saint-Germain with teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Argentine struck in the 10th minute and has now scored in each of his past three Champions League games.

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Champions League: It's back!12 photos

Perfect Pastore – Javier Pastore doubled PSG's lead with just two minutes of the first half remaining after a flowing move scythed through the Valencia defense. The talented Argentine playmaker was just one of a number of stars on show for the French club along with Ibrahimovic, Lucas Moura and Lavezzi.

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Champions League: It's back!12 photos

Red mist – Ibrahimovic was shown a straight red card following a controversial studs-up challenge on Andres Guardado. It was the Swede's third red of his Champions League career, only Edgar Davids, four, has more. It means that the striker will miss the second leg in Paris.

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Champions League: It's back!12 photos

Rami's rocking – Valencia's Adil Rami pulled a goal back in the final minute to give his side a lifeline going into the second leg in France. The La Liga side had won all eight of its Champions League home against French opposition before Tuesday's defeat.

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Goal-line technology (GLT) was successfully trialled at last year's Club World Cup in Japan and will be used at the Confederations Cup in Brazil this June ahead of the 2014 World Cup in the same country, FIFA said Tuesday.

"The aim is to use GLT in order to support the match officials and to install a system in all stadia, pending the successful installation, and pre-match referee tests," it said in a statement.

"With different technologies on the market, FIFA has launched a tender today, setting out the technical requirements for the two forthcoming competitions in Brazil."

The news will be widely greeted, and with some relief, following a whole host of incidents in recent years.

At the 2012 European Championship finals, Ukraine was denied a goal against England when Marko Devic's shot crossed the English goal line but was not given.

There have been several other instances, from Pedro Mendes' "goal" for Tottenham at Manchester United in 2005 through to Clint Hill's header for Queens Park Rangers in another English Premier League match at Bolton last year which was not given, despite replays showing it had quite clearly gone over the line.

Two rival systems have been given licenses by FIFA: Hawk-Eye, which is similar to the system used at the Wimbledon tennis tournament; and GoalRef from Germany. FIFA expects others to enter the bidding, which is open until mid-March, with a final decision to be made in April.

Hawk-Eye uses "triangulation" to pinpoint the exact location of the football. If it crosses the goal line, then an encrypted radio signal is sent to the referee's wristwatch to indicate a goal has been scored.

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In line with FIFA's requirements, the whole process takes less than a second to complete.

GoalRef uses a microchip implanted in the ball and low magnetic waves around the goal. The system detects any change in the magnetic field on or behind the goal line to determine if a goal has been scored and alerts the ref.

Michel Platini, head of European football's ruling body UEFA, remains a staunch opponent of the use of such technology.

A football purist, Platini has maintained his position, despite incidents such as Ukraine's "goal" at Euro 2012.